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Coelophysis, the state fossil of New Mexico
Coelophysis (SEE-lo-FIE-sis) is an early theropod, related to Tyrannosaurus and Velociraptor that lived during the late Triassic period -- about 210 million years ago. The species was first discovered in New Mexico when hundreds of fossils were unearthed at the Ghost Ranch of Rio Arriba County. It was designated the state fossil in 1981, because it had not been found in any other state at that time. Since then, fossils have been found in Arizona and possibly Utah.
Notable Discoveries
Tawa Hallae, discovered in 2009, provided a very well-preserved specimen of an early , feathered carnivorous dinosaur that lived during the Triassic period.
Nothronychus, discovered in 2001, is another intriguing theropod in that it is a descendant of carnivorous dinosaurs that nonetheless evolved into a plant-eater. It is one of few fossils discovered that date from the middle of the Cretaceous period.
Triassic and Jurassic Dinosaurs
Besides Ceolophysis, another Triassic dinosaur found in New Mexico is the pipedal plant-eater Revueltosaurus (re-VWEl-to-SAWR-us) who lived in the late Triassic, around 220 million years ago. Rioarribasaurus is another, though it is most likely the same species as Coelophysis.
New Mexico has contributed a number of specimens from the Triassic period, including partial remains of the theropods Eucoelophysis and Gojirasaurus. Other Triassic species include Seismosaurus, a large sauropod related to Diplotocus, Tecovasaurus and Lucianosaurus.
Cretaceous Dinosaurs
Besides Nothronychus, most other Creteceous dinosaurs found in New Mexico have dated from late in that period, most having lived somewhere between 85 and 65 million years ago. They include Tyrannosaurus, the sauropod Alamosaurus, Parasaurolophus, Duck-billed Kritosaurus, Triceratops and its relative, Torosaurus. Zunicerotops, an earlier relative of Triceratops, lived in the middle to late Creteceous from about 93 to 89 million years ago.